It’s no secret the Boston Bruins are pressed against the salary cap. After their recent signings, the Bruins sit $2.2 Million over the salary cap. There are two names considered to be the biggest Boston Bruins Trade possibilities.
Boston General Manager Don Sweeney didn’t seem to be in a rush when discussing the pressing cap issues surrounding the Bruins. “We don’t have an issue certainly through November. We don’t have an issue because of [Long-Term Injured Reserve] and the likelihood that will be an LTI with the injuries we have, the amount of injuries we have.” Sweeney said when speaking to Boston media.
Boston Bruins Trade Possibilities to Move Under the Cap
Craig Smith
The first and most likely candidate to be traded would be Bruins winger Craig Smith. The 32-year-old Smith is entering the final year of his 3-year/$9.3 Million deal. Carrying a cap hit of $3.1 Million, finding Smith a potential suitor would solve Boston’s cap issues.
Jimmie Murphy of Boston Hockey Now reported recently that according to his unnamed source “I can confirm an actual trade offer was made but after trying to find common ground for a while, the talks were put on hold,” the source told BHN. “This team really wanted Smith and wanted this to happen.”
There is also speculation that the Nashville Predators are seeking a reunion with Smith. The type of return the Bruins could be looking at for the winger may include a prospect on a two-way deal and a 4th round draft pick.
Boston has recent trade history with the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks have plenty of cap space and could benefit from adding a veteran winger to their services. Another fit for the 32-year-old is the Calgary Flames. The Flames however are now close to the cap after signing Nazem Kadri.
Mike Reilly
Last season the Bruins traded for and extended Hampus Lindholm. This move provided Boston with some depth at the left defence positions. When healthy, Lindholm, Matt Grzelcyk, and Derek Forbort, sit ahead of Reilly on the depth chart. Jakub Zboril, with a cap hit of just roughly $1.14 Million, is also more favourable for the Bruins’ third pairing than Reilly. Reilly’s name has been swirling around as Boston Bruins Trade bait.
An article written by Kevin Kurtz of the Athletic sees Reilly listed as a potential target for the New York Islanders. The Islanders are looking to add to their left side and though the team has been linked to Jakob Chychrun. However, the Coyotes asking price is enormous. Perhaps in true Don Sweeney fashion, the Bruins could take a flyer on declining veteran forward Zach Parise. Parise’s contract comes with just a minimal cap hit of $750,000 for the year. Nonetheless, the Bruins should be expecting no higher than a 4th round pick for Reilly after a down year last season.
Once again don’t be totally shocked if Anaheim Ducks show interest in Mike Reilly. The Ducks depth chart at Left Defence is not strong. With the youth in their system, adding a capable veteran would not be out of the question.
Nick Foligno
Foligno is another Boston Bruins Trade possibility. However, due to his poor performance last season this is unlikely the case. The 34-year-old comes with a cap hit of $3.8 Million and plays on the Bruins’ fourth line. This is an example of why some fans aren’t particularly happy with Sweeney’s choice in spending. Posting just two goals last season, Boston would have to sweeten the deal for too much for any team to take on his contract.
With a new head coach perhaps Foligno can make the jump onto the third line and provide a more depth offence this season. If he continues at last year’s production levels it wouldn’t be surprising to find Foligno on waivers for purpose of buyout.
Sweeney stated “I hope we’ve done significant math to be able to put the pieces together. We have some challenges, as do several teams, and how we do that through trade or be it through waivers, that really all teams are going to have to face.”. The comment about waivers gives life to the possibility of Foligno being bought out once the Bruins are healthy.
Conclusion
The Bruins have long-term injury reserve on their side at least when it comes to their cap issues. With that being said don’t be surprised to see either Craig Smith or Mike Reilly moved prior to the start of the season. It may be in the team’s best interest to move on from both players freeing up some extra salary. This would give the team some room to add a player if they are in the position to come trade deadline time.
All Salary Cap information from this article comes from https://www.capfriendly.com/
Let’s try to recap:
Patrice Bergeron | 🚨🍎🍎
David Pastrnak | 🍎🍎🍎
Brad Marchand | 🚨🚨
Jake DeBrusk | 🚨🍎
Matt Grzelcyk | 🚨🍎
Marc McLaughlin | 🚨
Erik Haula | 🚨
Taylor Hall | 🚨
Charlie McAvoy | 🍎
Trent Frederic | 🍎
Mike Reilly | 🍎
Hampus Lindholm | 🍎 pic.twitter.com/RR17LBSi9p— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 1, 2022
